Garment hanger



J. F.'HARRISON ,1 ,729

GARMENT HANGER Filed Feb. 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

April 1940' J. F. HARRISON 2,196,729

GARMENT HANGER Filed Feb. 14, 1938. 4' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 10/111 3 Harrison J. F. HARRISON GARMENT HANGER A ril 9, 1940.

Filed Feb. 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. J07? \7. f/Qzvms 0m BYQ C7 April 9, 1940. J. F. HARRISON 2,196'729 GARMENT HANGER Filed Feb. 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORN 6 Patented Apr. 9, 1940 v reo r-A'rss T OFFICE GARMENT HANGER John ll. Harrison, Marion, Ohio Applicatien February 14, 1938, Serial No. 190,513 6 Claims. (01. 22368) by a garment such as, for example, a dress, coat,

blouse, or the'like may be suitably supported either for purposes of packing or for purposes of display in show windows and the like.

A garment hanger, in order to be useful for the above described purposes, should be able to so support the garment carried thereby that the garment has. substantially the same appearance as that when worn. in other words, provision should be made for supporting the-garment both from the shoulders, as well as from the waist or belt portion and means should be provided whereby the portion intermediate the shoulders and belt be-capable of being bloused out as is the case when the garmentis worn.

I am aware'of the fact that there have been devices proposed in the priorart "to accomplish this general result; howevensuchdevices have been rather unsatisfactory due to the fact that the garment has had to be pinned onto the holder in order for the holder to'iunction in the manner above explained. v

In the light of the foregoing, it is a principal object of my invention to provide'a garment hanger capable of being used in the manner described without, however, there being any necessity for pinning the garment which is usually undesirable due to the fact that pinholes have a tendency to permanently deface the 'garment.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a hanger of the character described in'which the portions of the garment which. are folded in order to accommodate the same to the garment hanger are arranged in-smooth folds so that the application of the garment to the hanger does not have the tendency to either injure the garment or so wrinkle the same as to require it being re-pressed before itcan be worn.

It is a further object or my invention to provide a hanger of the character described in which the application of the garment to the hanger-is extremely simplified so that not only is the efiort necessary to apply the garment to the hanger reduced to a minimum but due to the fact that minimum effort is required, the hanger is capable of being used in conjunction with very fragile garment materials which would be permanently damaged if applied to hangers of the type proposed in the prior art.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the meanshereinafter'fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in I which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevational View of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional, part elevational view of the upper portion of the central section of the hanger illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view of the structure illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2, taken, on a plane substantially indicated by the line 3-3 and drawn to the scale of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing a garment applied to the structure of such lastnamedfigure; Fig. 5 is' a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the central section of the garment hanger of Fig. 1; Fig, 6 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 5 taken on a plane substan-, tially indicated by the line 6-6; Fig. '7 isa side elevational view of the hanger type form of construction of my garment hanger in contradistinction to the standing type illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is airagmentary side elevational view of the extensible connection employed to connect the two portions of the garment hanger illustrated in Fig. 7; Fig. dis-afront elevational view of an alternative form of construction for one of the elements of the assemblies illustrated, for example, in Figs. 1 and 7; Fig. 10 is yet another form of construction of such element; Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the element illustrated in Fig. 10 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line ll -l i; Fig. 12 is an elevational view of another form of the waist-supporting element of the assemblies illustrated; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 12 in use taken on the line I3'l3; Fig. 14 is an elevational View of. a modification of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a crosssectional view taken on the line lE-l5of Fig. 14, when in use; Fig. 16 is an elevational View of another exemplification of the Waist-supporting element of the assemblies illustrated; Fig. 17 is across-sectional view of the element of Fig. 16

in use taken onthe line l'l-ll; Fig. '18 isgan ele- I .yational view showing'the-formationote .modified form of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is an elevational view of such modified form ready for use; Fig. 20 is an elevational view of a spring clip used in the device of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a modified silhouette board embodying my invention as same is used; Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of my invention in a two part device; and Fig. 23 is a view showing the relation of the waist-supporting element of my invention tothe garment being displayed.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Fig. 1, the hanger assembly here illustrated consists of a stand generally indicated at I, a belt or waist-supporting element generally indicated at 2, and a shouldersupporting element 3.

The stand I consists of a suitable base member 4 provided with an upwardly extending tubular member 5 which may be of any convenient length or if desired, a telescopically adjustable tube may be employed for the purpose of varying the height of the standard 5, if such should be desired, although it will be found that this is usually not necessary.

Mounted on the standard 5 is the belt or waistsupporting section 2, which, in Figs. 1 to 6, is illustrated as consisting of a substantially rectangular open frame 6 formed of wire or similar material reinforced in the corners by gusset plates I and along its marginal edges, as at 8, bent to conform substantially to the contour of the waist or belt portion of the garment.

The wire or suitable element comprising the frame 6 is preferably intermediately of the upper side thereof bent in the form of a closed loop 9, providing an upwardly extending projection for the purposes hereinafter more fully explained.

The opposite ends of the wire frame are brought closely together to provide a downwardly extending projection it, which when fitted into the upper end of the tube 5, will secure the frame 2 on the standard I.

Secured to opposite sides of the open wire frame 2 are substantially U-shaped clamping members [I and i2, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. For convenience, the ends of the legs of these U-shaped clamping members are secured in suitable fashion such as by welding, brazing or the like to the gusset plates 1 lying in opposite corners of one side of the frame 2. The legs of the other clamping member are similarly secured to the opposite faces of the gusset plates lying on the other side of the wire frame.

When the clamping members II and I2 are secured in the manner described, the frame 2 may be inserted within the garment, such as a dress, illustrated in broken lines at l3 in Fig. 1, and in full lines at 13 in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that the width of the frame 2 is usually less than the width of the garment if it were laid out fiat. With the wire frame 2 within the garment, the excess portions of the garment respectively lying on opposite sides of the wire frame 2 are gathered in folds as at l4 and I5 and folded in to the wire frame between the openings respectively defined between the clamps H and I2 and the opposite sides of the central wire frame 6. This folding in of the garment may be conveniently accomplished by the operator merely running his hand up and down within the wire frame underneath the clamping members carrying with it the fold l4 of the garment. If this is done simultaneously on opposite sides of the frame, the garment may be evenly stretched to the extent desired over the frame and the frame positioned centrally with respect to the garment.

The foregoing description applies to the application of the central member 2 of my garment hanger to the belt or waist portion of the garment.

The hanger, as previously indicated, is provided with an upwardly extending projection 9 which, in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, is inserted in the lower end of a tubular member I6, the upper end of which telescopically supports a rod l1 carrying a shoulder-supporting bar l8. A set screw i9 is employed to adjust the rod II at any desired height.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that by the use of my improved hanger, the shoulder portion of the garment being supported by the rod l1 and the bar l8 and the waist or belt portion being supported by the frame 2, it is possible to support the shoulder portions at any desired height with respect to the belt or waist portion. In this manner the garment lying between the shoulders and waist may be bloused to any desirable extent, depending upon the character of the garment and the degree to which such blousing should be effected in order to best demonstrate the garment.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the frame 2 is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 1

and described above.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 7 is adapted, however, to support a garment by hanging the same on an overhead hook instead of supporting the same from the floor by means of a standard. This is accomplished, as indicated, by employing the same wire frame 2 for the waist or belt portion of the garment as is employed in the upright form illustrated in Fig. 1.

A wire or rod member 20 is provided, the lower end of which is fashioned in the form of a hook 2| which slidably embraces the loop portion 9 of the frame 2, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 8. In other words, the space between the two legs of the loop 9 forming a slight longitudinally extending depression or groove permit the point 22 of the hook to be resiliently forced over the loop 9. The slightly depressed end 22 of the hook 21 will then drop into the eye 23 of the loop 9, securing the two parts in assembled relation against accidental displacement. upper end of the bar or rod 20 is secured a block 24 which is provided with an opening therethrough to slidably accommodate a bar or rod 25. The lower end of the bar or rod 25 is provided with a block 26 secured thereto and provided with an opening adapted to slidably embrace the bar or rod 20.

A link 21 is loosely secured at one end of the looped terminal 28 of the rod 25 and adjacent its other end, is provided with an opening through which the rod 20 extends. This opening is just slightly larger than the outside diameter of the rod 20 so that as the looped end 28 of the rod 25 pulls upwardly on the lefthand end of the bar 21, as viewed in Fig. 8, the bar will bind on the rod 20 and secure the two rods 20 and 25 against relative axial movement in a separating direction. In this manner I have provided for ready and simple adjustment of the length of the connecting means generally indicated at 29 which, as illustrated in Fig. 7, extends between the waist or belt-supporting frame 2 and the shouldersupporting member 30. The shoulder-supporting member 30 may. be in the form of a conventional coat hanger with the loop 3| formed To the in the upper end of the rod 25 passed over the hook of the coat hanger as shown in Fig. '7.

In Fig. 9, is illustrated a belt or waist-supporting member which may be substituted for the frame 2 in any of the previously described forms of construction. The modification illustrated in Fig. 9 consists of a fiat plate-like member 32 formed of suitable material such as chip-board or the like and marginally contoured as at 33to conform substantially to the outline of the garment.

The plate member 32 is provided with marginal slots 34 formed therein which produce mar-- row flexible marginal portions 35 on opposite sides of the plate. The modification illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed in substantially the same manner as the frame 2', excepting that the folds of the garment corresponding to the folds l4 and i5 of Fig. 4, instead of being inserted between the clamping frames and central wire frame, are, when employing the modification of Fig. 9, inserted into the openings 34, so that such folded portions overlie the opposite faces of the plate member 32.

In Fig. 10, there is illustrated yet another modification of the waist or belt-supporting member and this consists of a substantially flat member 33 desirably shaped similarly to the contour of the element illustrated in Fig. 9.

As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 11, the'fiat member 36 has U-shaped clamping members 31 secured to opposite faces thereof, generally in the same manner and in the same arrangement as the clamping members i I and 42 are secured to the wire frame 6.

The function and mode of use of the modification illustrated in Fig.- 10 is substantially like that of the frame 2, so that a further description thereof is really unnecessary.

In Fig. 12 is illustrated another belt or waistsupporting member which may be substituted for the frame 2 in any of the previously described forms of construction. The modification illustrated in Fig. 12 consists of a fiat loop of wire 38 contoured to conform substantially to the outline of the garment. To opposite sides of said loop 38 are welded members 39 similar in size and contour to member 38 but having only three sides. The members 39 are respectively welded to member 38 by their terminals 40. In Fig. 13 is shown a cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 12 in use. The excess material of the garment I 3 is folded between the member 38 and the side members 39 as at l4 and I5.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated a belt or waist-supporting member which is similar to that shown in Fig. 12. Two of the loops 38 which have been formed to the contour of the garment are joined by the wire members 4|, the terminals 42 of which are welded to the members 38. In Fig. 15 is shown a cross-sectional View of the device of Fig. 14 in use. The excess material of the garment I3 is folded between the members 38 and the member 4| as at l4 and 15.

In Fig. 16 is illustrated an alternative form of belt or waist-supporting member which may be substituted for the frame 2 in any of the earlier described forms of construction. This modification consists of three similar flat plate-like members 43a, 43b and 430 formed of suitable material such as chip-board or the like contoured to conform substantially to the outline of the garment. These members 43a, 43b and 430 are in laminate arrangement and the inner member 431) is joined to each of the outside members 43a and 43c by spring-actuated hinges 44 affixed at opposite edges of member 431). Fig. 17 shows in crosssection the device of Fig. 16 in use. The excess material of a garment I3 is gathered between members 43a and' itb as at I4 and between members 4317 and 430 as at l5.

In Fig. 18 is shown a modification of the structure of Fig. 16. Light cardboard 45 or the like is cut to form three identical truncated pyramids 46a, 46b and 46c divided by creases 47. For use as a support for the belt or waist-supporting member of my device the end portions 46a and 460 are folded back upon opposite sides of the middle portion 461) as shown in Fig. 19. That the parts may retain the desired relation, small spring clips 48 such as shown in Fig. 20 are afiixed-along the creased edges 41.

Fig. 21 shows in cross-section a wooden silhouette of usual type modified to embody the principle of my invention, the modified board being shown in its relation to a garment in Fig. 23; On either side of the silhouette board 49 at its opposite edges are resiliently mounted members 50, similar in shape to said board. These members 50 may be wire loops or thin sheet-like material and are respectively affixed to the board 49 at the edges 5| thereof. In use, theexcess material of garment I3 is folded between the board 49 and the members 50 as at l4 and I5.

In Fig. 22 is shown a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of my invention wherein the excess material l3 and I4 of a garment I3 is inserted between and held by the contacting edges of two similar but oppositely disposed members 52. These members 52 are held in alignment by a telescopic device 53 therewithin, an element of which is mounted upon each member 52. Tension for gripping the excess material between the edges of members 52 is provided by a spiral spring 54 preferably mounted within the telescopic device 53.

In Fig. 23 is shown the relation of the belt or waist-supporting member of my invention in respect to the garment being displayed, the particular embodiment shown being that of Fig. 21.

It will be observed that when employing the garment hanger comprising my invention, the garment may be secured to the waist or beltsupporting member without the employment of any pins or similar securing means and in such a way that even the most fragile types of garment material are not damaged.

Due to the fact that the excess material lying on opposite sides of the frame and which is gathered in order to have the garment snugly embrace the frame and be supported thereby, is arranged in smooth folds so that the application of a garment to my hanger, even over extended periods of time, does not Wrinkle the same, the garment, when removed from the hanger, may be worn without re-pressing.

The foregoing features and advantages of my invention make it possible to employ the waist orshoulder-supporting section of my hanger as a means for supporting garments when they are packed in boxes. When usedin this fashion, the members such as those illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 may have the projections on their upper and lower ends omitted for the obvious reason that when employed for the purpose of supporting garments packed in boxes, such projections mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A garment-supporting and display device comprising an elongated frame the longitudinal margins of which comprise separable members having substantially the same outline and substantially the same longitudinal extent, and means interconnecting said separable members resiliently biasing the same toward each other whereby they resiliently secure the folds of the garment tucked therebetween.

2. A garment-supporting and display device comprising an elongated open wire frame the longitudinal margins of which comprise separable members having substantially the same outline, and means interconnecting said separable members resiliently biasing the same toward each other whereby they resiliently secure the folds of the garment tucked therebetween.

3. A garment-supporting and display device comprising a plurality of superposed elongated members the lateral edges of which are of substantially the same extent and substantially conform to the silhouette outline of the garment to be supported thereby, said members interconnected and resiliently biased toward each other whereby they may resiliently secure the folds of the garment tucked therebetween.

4. A garment-supporting and display device comprising a plurality of superposed elongated open wire frame members the lateral edges of which substantially conform to the silhouette outline of the garment to be supported thereby, said members interconnected and resiliently biased toward each other whereby they may resiliently secure the folds of the garment tucked therebetween.

5. A garment-supporting or display device, comprising an elongated open wire frame adapted to be inserted in the garment and having its opposite lateral edges shaped to substantially conform to the silhouette outline of the garment, said frame including along each such lateral edge complementary wire elements so connected with said frame as to be resiliently biased toward said frame whereby they may resiliently secure folds of opposite sides respectively of the garment tucked therebetween.

6. A garment-supporting and display device comprising a plurality of superposed similar elongated flat members the lateral edges of which are of substantially the same extent, the outline of each of said members substantially conforming to the silhouette outline of the garment to JOHN F. HARRISON. 

